Boston’s National Leadership

Boston has always been a City on a Hill. From starting the Revolution, to fighting against slavery, to founding the first public schools and public parks, moral leadership is at the core of our city’s identity. In these difficult times, Mayor Walsh believes it is more important than ever for Boston to show a way forward to an America that works for everyone. But that leadership starts in Boston’s neighborhoods. Marty is always focused on the needs of Boston residents. When actions in Washington affect the lives of Bostonians–that’s when he speaks up and fights back. At a time when cities must lead, Marty has made Boston the leader of cities.

Marty’s Record

Fighting income and wealth inequality.

Co-founded the Cities of Opportunity Task Force at the U.S. Conference of Mayors to put income and wealth inequality at the forefront of the national conversation.

Confronting addiction and the opioid crisis.

Founded the Substance Use Disorder Task Force at the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

Established the nation’s first municipal Office of Recovery Services and created a Recovery Services Toolkit to help other cities expand their anti-addiction work.

Used a prime-time speaking slot at the Democratic National Convention, as well as annual State of the City addresses, to share his message of recovery for those struggling with addiction.

Made Boston a leader in the My Brother’s Keeper movement, an initiative founded by President Obama to improve opportunities for boys and young men of color.

Boston’s community policing was recognized by the Obama White House as a model of community trust-building at a time of national tension.

Mayor Walsh has held annual regional summits on gun violence that brought together city and town leaders from across New England to suppress illegal gun trafficking and get illegal guns off Boston’s streets.

Standing up against injustice.

Mayor Walsh is a national leader in the fight to protect immigrants from hateful rhetoric and unjust actions. The National Council for La Raza awarded him its prestigious 2017 Capital Award for his efforts to promote the safety and unity of all families.

Mayor Walsh has been a forceful voice in defending America’s health care access. He has also joined with leaders of Boston’s world-leading healthcare sector to highlight the impact that federal disinvestment could have on Boston’s economy. Read more, here.

Going back two decades to his leadership role in defending marriage equality, Marty has always stood up for the rights and dignity of LGBTQ Bostonians. As mayor he installed gender neutral bathrooms in City Hall and made a strong public stand for the state’s trans rights public accommodations law.

Mayor Walsh has set the standard for women’s advancement. His salary negotiation training program has garnered national attention. His Boston Talent Compact is the first in the nation in which private companies share wage data with the goal of understanding and removing barriers to pay equity.

Innovating for excellence in city services.

Launched the first Citywide Analytics Team to use data to improve critical city services.

Launched Boston 311, a multimedia platform that enables residents to report non-emergency issues and direct city services where they are needed.

Established CityScore, a scoring system that uses data to grade how well the city is performing on service delivery, from EMS response times to roadway repairs. Check out The Economist’s coverage of this groundbreaking innovation in city government.

Marty’s Plan

Continue to speak out against injustice wherever it arises and stand with all those in Boston who are victimized or targeted.

Boston at the forefront of the national conversation. Thanks to Marty’s leadership, the U.S. Conference of Mayors will hold its 2018 annual conference in Boston. Hundreds of mayors and policy leaders from across America will converge on Boston next June to meet, share ideas, and learn from one another and from our city.

Set the standard for climate action. Under Mayor Walsh, Boston is working toward carbon neutrality by the year 2050, the most ambitious goal in the U.S. for a city our size.

Fight for solutions to Boston and America’s greatest challenges. Mayor Walsh will use his growing influence to speak up for measures that Boston and America needs, such as comprehensive immigration reform; infrastructure investment; affordable housing; climate action; and healthcare.

Help restore the American dream. Mayor Walsh’s economic mobility agenda will be a model for giving lower income Americans the tools they need to succeed, tailored to their specific challenges with the local knowledge and impact that only a mayor can achieve.